Scene Items

Powerful Scene Item Management

Scene item management with power and flexibility

Scene items, from props and wardrobe to lights, vehicles and security, can be a serious resource drain to handle. Dramatify gives you a smart, collaborative solution at the finger tips of all your production departments.

Scene items can be added and managed in several ways in Dramatify:

1. Scene items in the breakdown

Naturally, the first place where you usually start adding them are in the breakdown. With smart and easy to use technology, you add new scene items, attach them to the set, a character or the scene itself. You also assign them to the correct department. For characters we have both persistent and non-persistent scene items.

2: The scene items list

In the scene items list you keep track of all your items, add, edit and delete them but also add scene item options. This is very useful if you want an actor to try on three different jackets or have a couple of different car models in mind. The scene item list also contain a lot of nifty features to sort and filter the scene items for instance by scene, set, character and department.

3. Set and character pages

On the individual pages for a set or a character, team members from props, wardrobe and hair & makeup departments can do their breakdown and add items to a character, and props and set construction can add their scene items to sets. They can also add scene item options to each scene item. Even in the mobile on the go!

4. NEW!!! Tags, images & stars!

We just added both free tagging, images and star option. Tags is any keyword you want to add to your scene item. You can now also add an image to each scene item as well as star mark scene item options to easier distinguish between different options. Powerful!

5. NEW!!! Day out of Day for Scene Items!

Want to know exactly when #wardrobe #props #vehicles or any other #sceneitems are used? Check out Dramatify’s automatic Day out of Day report for Scene Items! Filter on dates and/or departments. Useful!

HIGHLIGHTS!

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Add scene items in the breakdown, to the character, set or scene.

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Super management and search of all scene items

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Let departments do their own breakdown with scene items on character & set pages

Character & cast management

Character & cast management

Characters are the lifeblood of any production. Dramatify automatically helps keeping track of all the details around your production’s characters, from which scenes they appear in and the cast, to any scene items belonging to them.

Dramatify offers a wide range of character types, from fiction to non-fiction, entertainment and current affairs. In Dramatify, you add characters to a scene, scene items such as wardrobe and props to a character and one or more cast members to the character. Suddenly, you and your team have a wealth of information at your fingertips, and Dramatify automatically adds characters and cast in the call sheet.

For creatives, you can flesh out the character with a concept image and a bio or description. After breakdown, we automatically add which episodes (if any) and scenes the character appears in.

Real people, stunt persons, body doubles and stand-ins

For drama, you can link not only an actor to a character but also stuntpersons, body doubles and stand-ins. For any other kind of non-fiction, entertainment, factuals, current affairs (or cameos) you can check a box to display that this person is themself.

Add scene items and scene item options directly to characters

We have also extended scene items past breakdown. This gives you the option of letting the wardrobe, hair and makeup and props teams do their own breakdowns and add both scene items and scene item options to a character – with images, tags and star markings.

Characters list, Cast & character report, Cast Day out of Day report

The entire character list becomes a working document which clearly shows which roles are cast and which are underway. It is also the basis for credits at the end of the production.

In the Character & Cast report, you find production days, pages, episodes, scenes, sets, location and unit bases for each character and cast. You can also filter and customise the information with a few clicks to get the view you want – for yourself or to send to others.

Dramatify also naturally contain a Day out of Day report for Cast.

Character & Wardrobe continuity reports

With the scene list (Stripboards > Scene list) you quickly create any continuity reports you need!

HIGHLIGHTS!

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Automatic character list

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Link main cast member, actor, stunt person, body double and stand-in to the character

Set management & scenography

Set management & scenography

scenography and set details can be overwhelming. From construction through props, Dramatify helps you handle all the details.

Dramatify offers lists and pages for sets as well as a breakdown report that include all set information.

During breakdown, you connect the set to scenes, turn defining set characteristics and props in the script into scene items, and then connect locations to sets. Suddenly, you and your team have a wealth of interconnected information at your fingertips, and Dramatify can automatically start help you gather and display useful information.

Add scene items and scene item options directly to sets

We have also extended scene items past breakdown. This gives you the option of letting the set construction and props teams add both scene items and scene item options directly to a set without passing the breakdown. On the set page you see all scene items and production details added to that set, and you can also filter on department so each department knows what they need to do.

Set list and set reports

The set list becomes a working document as a set report, clearly showing in which scenes a set is used, which sets are connected to a certain location and a specific unit base. You can filter the set list on int/ext sets, as well as on locations.

STEP 2: Adding scene items in the breakdown

Usually, you start adding scene items in the breakdown. You reach the breakdown by going to Scenes in the right hand menu, and then clicking on Breakdown in the toolbar.

Add a new scene item

To add a new scene item, click the link “Add a new scene item”.

In the popup that follows, name the scene item, select what it’s going to be attached to and the department responsible for it.

You can add anything as a scene item, from obvious items like props, wardrobe and furniture, to crowd control, lights and specific camera equipment. You can add scene items to a set, to a character or to the scene itself.

Scene items attached to a set

Items added to a set are items that don’t change between scenes if that set is used again, such as furniture. Any set items will be automatically added to the breakdown whenever you reuse a set.

Scene items attached to a scene

Items that are only used in one or a few scenes, are added to the particular scene or scenes they are needed in.

Scene items attached to a character

Items that belong to a character are attached to that character, and can be persistent or the more common non-persistant. A persistent item is something that should always accompany a character, like glasses, a wheel-chair or special effects makeup. A persistent item is added automatically to the breakdown whenever that character is added to a scene. To make a scene item belonging to a character persistent, check the box at “Persistent prop / attribute”

Scene items attached to a department

You also decide which department each scene item belongs to. Later, this makes easy for each department to see what they are responsible for handling.

Add an existing scene item

To add a scene item that you already added to another scene, just write the first letters of the scene item name, and you will get a list of suggestions. Click to add it to the scene.

STEP 3: The scene items list

The scene items list

If you have forgotten what scene items you have added, want to edit them in some way, or do advanced sorting or filtering – head to the scene items list.

You’ll find it by going to Scenes in the right hand menu, and then clicking on Scene items in the toolbar.

A tip! If you want to have the scene items list handy while you work in the breakdown, just open it in a new browser tab so you have the breakdown open in one tab and the scene item list in another. Don’t forget to refresh the scene item list as you add items in the breakdown.

Filter scene items

You can view the scene item list alphabetically and then also filter on scene, set, character and department, and any combination of those. That means you can for instance view everything your department is responsible for at a set or in a scene.

Sort scene items

You can also sort scene items on groups – meaning that you see all available scene items – grouped on set, character and department, in one long list, or view all the scene items for a single scene.

Add and edit items outside of the breakdown

In Scene items, you can also add and edit items outside of the breakdown, from correcting spelling errors and changing scene numbers, to changing who an item belongs to. This functionality also allows departments to add their own required items.

To add a new scene item, just click the big blue button above the list named “+ Add scene item”.

To edit a scene item, just click the blue link of the item itself.

Scene item options

Scene items can also have options added, if you for instance need to try out different selected items to find the one that fits best. To add a scene item option:

Click on the scene item you want to add an option to

Add the scene item and click OK.

If you want to add a second scene item: When you have added a first option, you will

Delete a scene item

To delete a scene item, just move the cursor in front of the item until you see a box appear.

Check the box and click delete.

Bulk delete scene items

Should you want to bulk delete scene items, check “Select All” at the top of the list to the left.

To stop any individual items from being removed, just click on the item’s checkbox to de-select it. Then click the red delete button to delete the scene items.

STEP 4: Managing scene items on set pages

Managing scene items on set pages

You can also work with scene items directly on the individual set pages. Any scene items belonging to a set, added to the breakdown, is automatically displayed on the set page. The set construction and props departments along with any admin, can add and edit scene items and scene item options as well as getting a clear overview over each set.

To go to the set pages, just click Sets in the right hand menu, and then select the set you want to work with from the set list.

Add a new scene item

To add a new scene item, just click add item.

Add a new scene item option

To add an option to a scene item, just click on the edit menu and select Add item option.

Change a scene item or scene item option

To change a scene item or an option, select Edit item instead in the menu.

Filter the set’s scene items on departments

Note that you can easily filter scene items on departments in the dropdown above the list to learn exactly what your department is responsible for.

STEP 5: Managing scene items on character pages

Managing scene items on character pages

The character pages work pretty much the same as the set pages. These can be accessed by admins as well as the members of the props, wardrobe and hair and makeup departments.

To go to the character pages, click Characters in the right hand side menu and then select the character you want to work with.

Adding a new scene item to a character

To add a new scene item, just click add item.

To add an option to a scene item, just click on the edit menu and select Add item option.

Persistent and non-persistent items

One big difference compared to sets, is that characters can have both persistent and non-persistent scene items.

The persistent items don’t have a scene number, but are instead indicated by the text Always. A persistent scene item is something that a character should have in every scene like glasses or a wheelchair. It is automatically added to every scene in that the character is added to.

Filter on persistent and non-persistent items

Above the scene item list to the left, you can also filter scene items on persistent and non-persistent items if you want.

Scene item per scene for the character

Below the scene item list, you also find the scene items for each scene for this character.

STEP 6: Working with scene items on mobile

Since Dramatify works great on mobile, set designers and props can add scene items and options on the go in their smart phones.

Before you start

The latter method is the easiest and most common when you work with fiction screenplays. Here is an article of how to import a screenplay.

Adding new characters through the character page

Dramatify supports characters for both fiction productions as well as non-fiction. You can add main character, supporting character, extra, stunt and voice actor, but also reporters, anchors, hosts, participants, interviewees, judges, dancers, musicians and more. For atmosphere cast, please look in the section below.

Adding a new character

To add a new character, click on Characters in the right hand sidebar menu, then on the blue button with “Add character”. As you see below, you only need to add a character name and select a character type. However, you can also flesh out the character with a concept image or an test makeup picture of the casted actor. You can also add a bio, description or other info about the character.

Adding atmosphere cast

To add atmosphere cast, click on the atmosphere tab and then on “Add atmosphere”.

Note that unlike other cast members, atmosphere cast is never invited to Dramatify. You can add how many is needed and then add numbers as you book. You can then also add who is booked, contact information and upload a release. This information will then be added automatically to the Daily Production Report on the correct day/s.

Connecting a character to the cast member

To get cast information and cast calls correct, you need to connect the cast member to the character. On the character editing page, you select the correct cast member in the dropdown menu in the Cast box as you see below. You can do that at any time during the pre-production.

For the cast member to appear in the dropdown menu, they need to have been added to the team list under People, but not necessarily invited yet to the production.

Adding real people as characters

Adding real people as characters

In the case of documentaries, factuals, talkshows and entertainment where people appear under their real names as themselves or a speaker voice, you just add “Amy Smith” as the character and check the box “This character is played by Herself/Himself/Itself”.

As with other character types, you need to invite Amy Smith to the production and then connect the character page to the personal information by selecting Amy Smith in the “Select Cast member” dropdown shown in the image above.

Managing imported characters

When you import a script, you will be presented with a list of all characters with dialogue in the script. You can either skip and not import any characters, or do a “mini-breakdown” and go through the characters which then will be auto-linked to the correct scenes.

If you do the latter, please do the following:

Decide if the character should be imported or not. (i.e. you don’t import duplicate misspelled characters or characters that actually aren’t characters such as when two characters speak as one or an answering machine.).

Add correct character type, is the character a main character, supporting character, extra etc?

Note! Dramatify DO NOT make any script changes. If you decide not to import a character, it simply means it does not show up in the character list.

Re-importing and synching characters

If you import a rewritten screenplay, many characters already exists. Dramatify is smart and will find the new characters and not import existing characters. However, if the screenwriter have misspelled characters or kept characters that you didn’t import the first time, these may be labelled as new characters. Therefore, go through the character list and click ignore on the characters that shouldn’t be imported and designate the correct character types to new characters that should be imported.

Adding characters & atmosphere during breakdown

Adding existing characters

Just start writing the first letters of an existing character and Dramatify will suggest alternatives. Just click on the right one.

Adding new characters

To add a new character, just click the link “Create new character” (hidden under the name dropdown in the image above) and you’ll get a popup window.

Adding atmosphere

To add atmosphere groups, you proceed in the same way. Start typing in the box underneath “Add atmosphere” to add an existing atmosphere group, or click the link “Create new atmosphere group” to create a new group.

Editing and deleting characters

You can edit the information about a character at any time, as well as connect it with a cast member so that he or she gets access to team messages, scripts and call sheets.

Just click on the character you want to edit.

On the character page you’ll find all information we have about the character. Some is auto-generated through the breakdown, such as episode and scene information.

To edit any core information; name, character type, picture, bio/description and connected cast member; click on Edit character in the toolbar. To delete a character, select “Delete character”.

Adding and editing scene items outside of the breakdown

Scene items

Scene items are any items like props, wardrobe, special effects etc. that is mentioned in the script. Anything specifically mentioned in the script is usually added during breakdown. In the middle of the page you find all the scene items that’s been added and you can filter them on department. At the bottom of the page, you find the items added during breakdown listed per scene.

However, a character needs a wardrobe, props and perhaps special hair & makeup. Any admin and anyone belonging to the wardrobe, props and hair & makeup teams can add to scene items.

Persistent and non-persistent items

For characters, there are two different kinds of scene items, persistent items and non-persistent. A persistent item is something that a character always appears with, like glasses or a scar, and once added, this scene item is automatically added to every scene the character appears in.

Scene item options

In the space under the core character information, you’ll find any scene items already added. To those you can add scene item options. That is any alternatives you want to list. If the scene item is a jacket, you can use the scene item options to add jackets in different colors, different brands or models. The list makes it easy to remember what should be fitted or returned. Just click the menu beside each scene item to add an option.

You can also add new scene items and scene item options. This mean that you can build each character’s wardrobe and props outside of the breakdown.

Removing or changing a casted actor or participant

Removing a cast member who are not yet a member of the production

Removing a cast member who is not yet a member of the production is easy. This person might not yet been invited, haven’t yet accepted the invitation or have refused the invitation.

Go to People in the side menu. Above the production team card, click on Cast.

Any member whose card that have a colored top border, is not yet a member with access.

These members you can just remove by clicking in the lower right corner of the card and select “delete invitation” or “revoke invitation”.

Removing a cast member who are a member of the production

There are three ways of removing a cast member who already is a member of the production.

1) Remove the cast member from the character but not the production

Let’s say that you have re-casted the cast member in another role, or do not want the cast member connected with the character for some other reason. Just go to the character’s page and select edit character in the toolbar. At the bottom of the edit character page you will see the text “Played by: [insert cast member’s name]“. Just click on the trashcan to remove the cast member. As a safety measure, you will get a popup asking you if really want to remove the cast member. Confirm that you do.

2) Remove the cast member from the character and select another cast member

If you for some reason want to change cast member to another, already existing cast member, just click on the edit (pen) icon to the right of the text Played by: [insert cast member’s name]“. Beneath, more content roll out. Use the dropdown menu to select another cast member and click save.

3) Remove a cast member both from the character AND from the production

Go to People in the side menu. Above the production team card, click on Cast.

Find the cast member you want to remove, and click in the lower right corner of the card. Select “remove from production”. This person will now be removed both from the production and the character.

The character list

As you add characters and cast, you get a complete character list with credits. Just click on “Characters” in the sidebar menu. You’ll see character, cast member and episode. Click “Report” in the orange toolbar to get a detailed list.

The Line Counter

The Line Counter

In some territories, actors are partly paid by the number of dialogue lines. You’ll find an automatic report of this by clicking on Cast & Characters, and then on Report in the orange toolbar.

How the lines are counted

A line is 60 characters including commas, dots, empty spaces, etc. If the rest of that dialogue line is under 10 extra characters, i.e. below a total of 69 characters, it’s still counted as one line. A dialogue of over 70 characters is counted as two or more lines. A one-word line, i.e. “No” or “Oh” is counted as one line.

In the report, you’ll see the total lines per character and episode. If you do a feature, the line count is presented for the entire film.

Note! Character permissions

Only users with Production Admin permission as well as teams belonging to wardrobe, props and hair & makeup will be able to see the Character nav tab and add, edit, administrate and delete Characters. Learn how in the Roles and Permissions article.

Working with sets

Working with sets

Sets & set scene items!

Dramatiify’s feature for sets give you set list and set pages with all set information including scenes and scene items. Sets are also interconnected with all other production information in Dramatify.

Where do I find sets?

Just click on “Sets & Locations” in the sidebar menu.

The difference between sets and locations

In some screenwriting and scheduling applications, the terms set and location are used quite interchangeably. In Dramatify however, these are two very different things.

Sets are the theatrical scenery, the set construction where the action takes place. Locations have GPS coordinates. You can have many sets at one location, like at a big sound stage, but you can not have many locations for one set.

If that is the case, you need to add more scenes to your script since the general principle in screenwriting is that a scene shouldn’t require moving the camera.

While the difference between sets and location can be quite apparent in fiction production, that may not be the case in non-fiction. But here is an illustrative example:

If you interview a researcher in a university lab, the lab, where the filming takes place, is the set and that is tied to the location which is the university. In the call sheet, you then have the correct address, map link and driving directions as well as updated weather forecast for the university, and under Scenes & Set see exactly where the filming is going to take place for the different scenes.

Sets without locations

A set usually have a location, but doesn’t have to. With the increasing use of CGI, you might have a set of a space battle, but naturally no location as this scene will be produced digitally.

In Dramatify, you can assign all such scenes to a specific team, and give them their own call sheet without any locations other than the office as a unit base.

Managing imported sets

We recommend that you go through the set listto remove any screenwriter or software errors. After import, just click on Sets.

There might be misspellings that create two sets where there should be one, screenwriter errors that names one set “Anna’s kitchen” and another “Anna’s house / Kitchen”, even though the should be the same or screenwriting techniques like adding an “insert” or a “back to” in the slug, that automatically creates a set called “back to”. That set should be deleted of course.

To edit or delete a set, click on the set name in the set list and then on the edit menu in the toolbar. Choose edit set or delete set.

Imports from some screenwriting software also adds the entire slug as the set so you manually need to go in and correct this. If you want correct strip board colors, you should also go to each scene and help Dramatify to know if it is an interior or exterior set.

You can also add any description or information you’d like.

Adding a new set manually

To add a set manually, click on Sets and then use the edit menu to the right in the toolbar to click on Add Set.

You add the name and select if it’s an interior or exterior set. You can also add any information or description to the set if you like.

If you have added a location, you can link the set to the correct location, or do that later. Click to save. You can at anytime add and edit information on the set edit page.

Adding sets during breakdown

If you write your screenplay directly in Dramatify, or do a non-fiction production using our AV scripts, it might be faster and more convenient to add sets during breakdown.

To navigate to the breakdown, you click on Scenes and then on Breakdown in the toolbar.

The Breakdown is how you, amongst other things, link together scenes with sets and Time of Day in order it add correct strip board colors for scheduling and call sheets.

You add sets in the top left hand part of the page. Above you have the scene text as a reference.

To add a new set, click the link. As you will see, the form is the same as on the Add set page.

To add an existing set, just use the dropdown menu “Select Set” and select the correct set. Sets that starts with “INT -” or “EXT -” have had a correct int or ext designation added and will produce the correct stripboard colors after the Time of Day is selected<

When you also have added the Time of Day – dawn, day, dusk or night – the lightly striped background of the slug (i.e. the scene headline] will turn into a correct strip board color.

The lightly striped background is a warning sign in the breakdown, scheduling and call sheets that a scene isn’t broken down properly.

A slow internet connection that doesn’t send the signal for the slug to change color. Save your settings at the bottom of the column, then click to go to the next scene at the top, and then go back again.

If the background of the slug is still striped, check the beginning of the set. If it doesn’t say INT or EXT, you need to go to Sets and edit your set. More below!

Add scene items during breakdown

While you add sets in the breakdown, you can also add any scene items that is mentioned in the scene text to sets.
You also link the scene item to which department that should be responsible for it. Everytime you add a set that you already have added scene items to, these items will be automatically added to the scene.

If there are set items that should just be in some scenes and not in all, they should be categorised and added as scene items to each scene they should appear in, not as scene items added to the set.

Editing and adding information to sets

The set page show what information exists about a set. The upper part holds information whether the set is an exterior or interior set, the location if you have added that, in which episodes and scenes the set are used, and any information or description added.

You can at any time add information to, and edit existing sets, just like we showed you when adding a new set. In the lower part of the page, you find scene items for the set.

Since many people only add what the script explicitly states in the scene text during breakdown, admins and any team members belonging to the set construction and props teams can add new scene items to sets. They can also add scene item options both to new and existing scene items, for instance different brands or models of shade umbrellas to choose between.

To add a new scene item, click on the link Add item.

To add a new scene item option, click on the edit scene item icon and select “Add item options”.

On the set page, you can also filter on departments to see exactly what scene items your department is responsible for in the current set.

Click on Sets & Locations in the sidebar menu, and then on the set you want to link a location to.

On the set page, click on the edit (pen) icon.

On the set edit page, click on the location dropdown and select which location this set belongs to. If you do not have any locations in the list, or the right location, you need to add that first. Read more about Locations here.

Nifty: Scene items on mobile

Dramatify works great on mobile, so the set construction and props teams can add scene items and option selections on the go in stores and rental facilities.